Controlling mechanism for hydraulic jacks.



R. W. SPARLING.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC JACKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3h 1912.

1,172,748. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

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RAYMOND W. SPARLING, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR HYDRAULIC JACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.22, 1916.

Application filed August 31, 1912. Serial No. 718,030.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND IV. SPAR- LING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, hai e invented a new and useful Improvement in the Controlling Mechanism for Hydraulic Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism for controlling hydraulic jacks employed in driving well casings.

It is the object of this invention to provide a mechanism for controlling hydraulic acks which embodies a valve for controlling inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the interiors of the cylinders of the jacks, and which valve is adapted to co-incidently open and close the inlet and exhaust ports during the switchin of the operating fluid from one side of the ack pistons to the other to prevent choking of the operating fluid.

It is a further object to provide relief ports in connection with the valve chamber.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and annexed thereto: Figure 1 is an elevation of the controlling device and its connections to a pair of hydraulic jacks lo cated in the usual position in the ground ad jacent to the well provided with a casing,.a portion of the mechanism shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section with the valve casing and the valve. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33'of Fig. 2 looking'in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4; is a detail of the valve operating lever.

In the operation of hydraulic jacks in driving well casings, the fluid for operating the jacks is usually delivered thereto by piston pumps under extremely high pressure. It is necessary, in order to prevent bursting of the fluid conveying pipes, to relieve the fluid pressure at all times, which relief is ordinarily effected by the movement of the pistons in their hydraulic jack, but there is ordinarily an interval between the switching of the fluid from one side of the jack pistons to the other in which the fluid is temporarily out off from the jack, consequently subjecting the pipe lines to the pressure of the fluid induced by the force pump. By the use of the present invention a relief of the fluid pressure is accomplished during the switching of the fluid from one side of the jack pistons to the other.

In the following description of the component elements of the invention like numerals indicate similar parts in all the views, 5 designating the casing of a well on which is mounted the spider 6 adapted to be'engaged by the upper ends of the piston rods 7 these rods being secured to the pistons 8, mounted in the hydraulic cylinder jacks 9 which are buried and anchored in the ground adjacent to the well. Supported above the ground is shown a portion of the derrick 10 provided with a cross beam 11 on which is mounted the valve casing 12, provided with the flanges 13 by which the casing is secured to the cross beam. This valve casing is preferably of general cylindrical shape the flanges being formed on its outer periphery, the casing having a central concentric bore which is adapted to be closed at either end by the screw threaded closures 14; threaded into the terminal ends of the bore. This casing 12 is provided with a plurality of ports, the inlet port 15 being connected by suitable pipe 16 to a source of fluid under pressure, this port being preferably placed in a vertical position and adjacent the exhaust port 17 placed in the same plane provided with the pipe connection 18 leading to the pump tank. Preferably placed intermediate and on either side of these ports and on the lower or opposite side of the easing are three ports 19, 20 and 21 which are provided with pipe connections 22, 23' and 24 to the jack cylinders. Annular channels- 25 are connected to each of these ports, the channels being formed in the inner periph- -ery of and extending completely around the central bore of the casing. Mounted in this central bore is the cylindrical valve wall or seat 26 shown as a section of a metal tube, preferably of bronze, its ends butting against the inner faces of the closures 14, or it may be fitted tightly in the casing as preferred. This tubular wall is provided with a plurality' of apertures 27 extending through the wall, each series of apertures being adapted to register with the annular channel adjacent thereto.

Mounted within the tubular valve seat is the valve member composed of a valve stem 28 shown as formed of two sections though a single cylindrical rod may be used. The portion 28 as shown nearest the operating lever 29 is threaded on each of its ends, the outer end of the rod passing through the bore in the plug 14 and the packing gland bearing 30 attached to the closure 14, this outer end being threaded to the yoke 31 secured by the pin 32 to the operating lever 29. The operating lever is pivoted at 33 in the lugs of the bracket 34: preferably secured to the cross bar 11 adjacent to the valve casing. Intermediate of the threaded ends of the rod 28 is the boss 35 adapted to engage the valve cup 36 on its inner face. The in-- ner end of the rod is reduced in diameter and the stud 37 formed thereby is threaded and adapted to be engaged in the threaded bore in the plunger 38 formed on the inner end of the second section of the valve rod 39, this rod being adapted to pass through the packing gland formed by the closure 1% and the gland member 30 at this end of the casing. The cup 36 engaging the boss is preferably of leather and the outer or opposite face from that bearing on the boss 35 is engaged by a follower 40, this follower being separated by a tubular spacing sleeve ll from the follower i2 which engages a second cup -13 bearing upon the walls of the tubular seat and surrounding the valve stem. A second tubular spacing sleeve 44 of greater length than the sleeve 41 bears against the other face of the cup and extends around the valve stem to its threaded inner end and where it enters the inner portion of the leather cup 45. The other face of this cup is engaged by the inner face of the follower 38, threaded as before described, so that the turning of one section of the rod in relation to the other section of the valve rod will clamp the members positively and the pressure of the fluid inclosed ehiciently engages the cups against the walls of the tubular seat 26, their free ends being placed facing one another for this purpose. Relief ports 46 are shown connecting the outer ends of the valve chamber with. the adjacent ports communicating with the cylinders of the jacks, the edges of the cup 36facing the outer end of the casing, since the pressure is low between it and the cup 43.

Instead of the divided stem, at single rod may be used with a plurality of sleeves, that adjacent the lever passing through the stud ing boX and threaded into the yoke 31. The terminal one taking the place of the plunger 38 passing through the stuffing box and engaging a nut threaded on this end of the stem.

The connections 22 and 24. from the casing to the cylinders are connected by the short cross pipe 47 and these two connections are led to the upper end of the cylinders. The pipe 23 connecting with the port 20 is led to a cross pipe -18, the two ends of which are led into the lower ends of the cylinders. Suitable valves 50 and 51 mav be interposed in the pipe connections of the cylinders so that one or the other of the cylinders may be cut out when desired.

As will readily be seen from the above description of the component elements of the invention, sufficient space is left between the tubular valve casing and the spacing sleeves 41 and 44 to permit the passage of the fluid pressure medium, usually water, from the port 15 connected withithe source of pressure through its annular channel into the valve chamber out through the port 19 and conveyed by the pipe 22 and its cross connection:

47 through the pipe 24- to the upper end of the two cylinders, pressure being exerted against the upper face of the piston forces the casing 5 into the bore formed by the drilling operation. Operating the lever 29 by its handle 49 to move the valve to-the position limited by the outer face of the boss the pressure in the upper'ends of the cylinders is allowed to escape through its pipe connections to the port 21, the pressure from the port 15 being carried by the changed position of the valve to theport 20 and through the pipe connections 23 and 48 the pressure is exerted to the lower face of the pistons 8 and they are lifted to the desired position.

possiblewithcoarser metal, as iron of which.

the casing 12 is preferably cast.

The chambers 52 and 53 are of the same length and each is equal to the distance between the centers of ports 19 and 20, or 20 and 21, respectively. By this arrangement, when the valve is shifted from its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the fluid pressure is delivered to the upper sides of the pistons 8 through the port 19, to its advanced position with the boss 35 against the end of the valve casing to direct the fluid under pressure through the port 20 and to the underside of the pistons,

the ports 21', 2O and'19 will be closed and opened successively in the order named:

That is to say, the port 21 is fully closed and then partly opened to the chamber 53 before the port 20 is fully closed to the chamber 53 and on continued movement of the valve the port 20 is closed to the chamber 53 and partly opened to the chamber 52before the port '19 is closed to the chamber 52. This operation permits the opening of the port 21 to the chamber 53 while the port 20 is partly open and places both these ports in open communication with the exhaust port 17 so that at this intermediate position of the valve the fluid under pressure delivered through the port 15, chamber=52 and now open port 19 will be bypassed through the pipe 4:? to

chamber 53 and out the exhaust port 17 through the port 21, and will bear equally on opposite sides of the pistons 8 by reason of the pressure being transmitted through the partly open port 20 and the pipes 23 and 48 to the undersides of the piston, and t0 the upper sides of the piston through the pipes 22 and 24. This results in establ1shing a balance so that the pistons 8 will be rendered stationary at the intermediate position of the valve and .the fluid from the pump will be circulated through the valve as described.

The continued movement of the valve to its advanced position in closing the port 20 does not choke the flow of the fluid as the latter can pass freely from the inlet port 15 through the chamber 52, port 19, pipe 47, port 21, chamber 53 and out the exhaust port 17 during the time the port 20 is closed and also when the port 20 is partly opened to the chamber 52 which occurs, as before stated, while port 19 is partly open, at which time a balanced pressure on opposite sides of the pistons 8 will be established. On moving the valve to its final advanced position the port 19 will be closed and the port 20 fully opened. so that the fluid pressure will then pass through the chamber 52 and port 20 to the under sides of the pistons 8, as before described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that port 21 begins to open to the chamber 53 as port 20 begins to close to said chamber, and that port 20 begins to open to chamber 52 as port 19 begins to close to said chamber.

The reverse movement of the valve operates in a like manner successively closing and opening the port 19 to the chamber 52 before the port 20 is closed to the chamber 52, and opening the port 20 to the chamber 53 before the port 21 is closed to the chamber 53 so as to prevent choking of the fluid at the inlet port 15. By providing the bypass 16 leading from the ports 19 and 21 to the ends of the valve casing no end thrust is made on the valve so that it is balanced at all times in any of its positions.

hat I claim is:

1. A controlling valve for hydraulic acks, comprising a valve casing, a valve stem reciprocally mounted in said casing, a series of three valve cups mounted on said stem spaced apart to form a pair of chambers therebetween, said valve casing formed with a pair of spaced outer ports in communication with each other and adapted to be alternately opened and closed to the chambers on the reciprocation of the valve stem, an inlet and an outlet port in the casing intermediate the outer ports arranged so that the inlet port will be in constant communication with one of the chambers and the outlet port in constant communication with the valve stem is in one extreme position, and to communicate with the other chamber when the valve is in the other extreme position.

A controlling valve for hydraulic jacks, comprising avalve casing, a valve stem reciprocally mounted in said casing, a series of three valve cups mounted on said stem spaced apartto form a pair of chambers therebetween, said valve casing formed with a pair of spaced-outer ports in communication with each other adapted to be alternately opened and closed to the chambers on the reciprocation of the valve stem, an inlet and an outlet port in the casing intermediate the outer ports arranged so that the inlet port will be in constant communication with one of the chambers and the communicate with the other chamber when the valve is in the other extreme position, the lengths of the chambers between the valve cups being equal to the distance between the centers of the outer ports and the intermediate port, whereby one outer port and the intermediate port will communicate with the chamber connecting with the inlet port when the valve stem is in one position, and the other outer port and the interme diate port will communicate with the cham ber connecting with the outlet port when the valve stem is in another position.

3. A controlling valve for hydraulic jacks, comprising a valve casing having a pair of outermost ports connected together by a by-pass and connecting with one end of the hydraulic jack casing, an intermediate port connecting with the opposite end of the hydraulic jack casing, an inlet port arranged between the intermediate port and one of the outer ports, and an outlet port arranged between the intermediate port and the other outer port, a valve stem reciprocally mounted in the valve casing, a series of three spaced valve cups on said stem forming a pair of chambers therebetween, one of which is in constant communication with the inlet port and the other in constant communication with the outlet port, said chambers being of a length equal to the distance between the centers of the intermediate port and the centers of the outermost ports, whereby when the valve is reciprocated the outlet port will be in cormnunication through one of the chambers with the intermediate port and with one of the outer ports and thus be opened to the inlet port through the bypass connecting the outer ports and the chamber connecting with the inlet port.

4. A controlling valve for hydraulic jacks, comprising a valve casing having a pair of outermost ports connected together by a by- )ass and connecting with one end of the hydraulic jack casing, an intermediate port connecting with the oposite end of the hydraulic jack casing, an inlet port arranged between the intermediate port and one of the outer ports, and an outlet port arranged between the intermediate port and the other outer port, a valve stem reciprocally mounted in the valve casing, a series of three spaced valve cups on said stem forming a pair of chambers therebetween, one of which is in constant communication with the inlet port and the other in constant communication with the outlet port, said chambers be ing of a length equal to the distance between the centers of the intermediate port and the centers of the outermost ports, whereby When the valve is reciprocated the outlet port will be in communication through one of the chambers with the intermediate port and with one of the outer ports and thus be opened to the inlet port through the bypass connecting the outer ports and the chamber connecting with the inlet port, and passages connecting the outermost ports with the interior of the valve casing at the ends of the outermost valve cups.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24; day of August, 1912.

RAYMOND W. SPARLI-NG.

WVitnesses W. P. KEENE, ANSEL SMITH.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

